The Importance of a Good Foundation

"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' but not do what I command? 

I will show you what someone is like who comes to me,
listens to my words, and acts on them.


That one is like a man building a house,
who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock;
when the flood came, the river burst against that house
but could not shake it because it had been well built.
But the one who listens and does not act
is like a person who built a house on the ground
without a foundation.
When the river burst against it,
it collapsed at once and was completely destroyed."

In the past two weeks, hurricane Harvey and hurricane Irma have destroyed both people and buildings in the lands that they visited more efficiently than any modern army could using conventional weapons.  Buildings on some islands were reduced to unrecognizable piles of rubble and many of those that dwelled in these buildings lost their lives.  On the other hand, I watched reporters standing in the midst of the raging rain and wind reporting on the storms.  One of the reporters had a sturdy rope around a concrete pillar that he could hold on to when the winds got too intense.  The pillar was attached to a concrete structure, built on higher ground, with the foundation sunk deeply to bedrock.  This building was not moved when the rains came and the winds sang their loud songs of destruction. 

We are like buildings.  We can build our foundation on the things of this world and watch as the storms of life take apart what we had worked so hard to build.  We can trust in electronics, and money, and glitter and glitz and when the floods of disaster touch our life we will be left with nothing but ourselves. 

On the other hand, we can build our lives based on the truth that has been given to us by Jesus. Our lives can be built on pillars sunk down to the bedrock of truth and when the winds come and floods of evil times touch our lives we will be safe and secure because Jesus is our foundation and we shall not be moved. 

Purgatory is a place of hope and those that are there are secure in the fact that they will, someday be with God in heaven. They are in Purgatory to cleanse the effects of sin from themselves and to lose attachment to sin. They need our prayers. Please remember them in your daily prayers, they will remember those that helped them.  Thank you. 

Christmas Wish

Tony stirred restlessly in his bed. He glanced to the right and looked out of the window in his room.  The snow was still coming down, this was surely going to be a white Christmas. His brothers all had sent letters to Santa, although they knew that Santa was the man known as Dad.  Tony did not submit a list this year.  He longed for peace, he longed for quiet, he longed for rest. He wanted to go home for Christmas. None of these things could be delivered by Santa or even that most powerful man in his life, Dad.  

He stared out the window and found joy in the white snowflakes that were hitting his window. Tomorrow was Christmas day.  He remembered last year. He had joined the other kids in presenting a Christmas Play, he proudly played Joseph. He smiled as he remembered how he had spent hours mastering the dialogue.  How he recited it for Mom and Dad over and over again until he had it perfect.  He was nervous that night but Dad came over and put his hand on his shoulder and told him that he knew he could pull this off. And he did! Ms. McMahn, his teacher, told him that he was the best Joseph she had ever had in her Christmas play. The crowd applauded all of the players but when he was introduced the audience got to their feet and gave him a standing ovation. There was no way he could bow since he was confined to a wheel chair but he bowed his head in humble acceptance of the crowds acclimation of his performance.  A tear formed in the corner of his eye as he remembered that most happy of his life. He wiped the tear away and once again turned his attention to the window.

The snow was hitting the window and the lights from the street were changing the water drops into a colorful display of red, green, orange, and white.  He closed his eyes and with thought of the beautiful display of colors on the window he fell into a deep, deep sleep,  Not long after he closed his eyes he saw a beautiful vision, a land filled with light and colors. He slowly looked around and he knew the people that were standing in front of him even though he had never seen them before. They were all smiling. Young people, old people, boys and girls, all had a look of joy and peace on their face. He began walking forward, yes walking, the wheel chair was left behind.  As he got closer he saw everyone was smiling at him and then a great noise thundered as all of the people applauded for him.  A cheer rang out.  He began running toward the people and a very gentle looking man stepped in front of the crowd and Tony did the only thing he could think of, he leaped into the man's arms.  The man held him in his strong but gentle arms and whispered to him, "My name is Jesus, welcome home."  Tony was home for Christmas.

I felt compelled to write this short story, call it an inspiration but I believe someone out there needs to read this story which is designed to bring comfort.  God bless all of you this day.  Please remember to pray for all those who are going home to heaven this day. Pray that they feel the warm embrace of the Lord and that they are not afraid.  And for those who are losing a beloved mother, father or son, or daughter, remember we are made for heaven and those that we love will greet us there someday.